Patent Attorney

About LegalZoom

LegalZoom is on a mission to help people navigate the legal system with confidence and clarity. As a leader in online legal services for over 25 years, we combine technology, attorney-led solutions, and expertise to protect the aspirations, lives, and legacies of millions of customers. If you’re ready to contribute to a collaborative, diverse, and distributed group of creative thinkers and problem-solvers, we can’t wait to meet you.

Where we work

Our Austin, Beaverton, Frisco, Los Angeles Metro, and San Francisco Bay Area offices allow our employees to collaborate with teammates and offer special onsite events, lunches, and more. This position will be remote within the United States. Remote employees should confirm that their internet service has adequate bandwidth to support all work processes.

Human-in-the-Loop

At LegalZoom, we operate with a human-in-the-loop model, where AI enhances—rather than replaces—human judgment. We believe the strongest outcomes for our customers come from thoughtfully integrating human expertise with AI capabilities to improve accuracy, safety, and decision-making. To align with our AI-integrated operating model, our interview process will assess AI fluency, curiosity, and measurable/impactful workflow integration.

Overview

We are seeking a skilled, entrepreneurial, and forward-thinking Patent Attorney to help scale and evolve our growing patent practice. This is a unique opportunity to join a modern law firm at the intersection of legal services, technology, and innovation. The ideal candidate will bring deep patent prosecution expertise, strong client counseling skills, and enthusiasm for building scalable legal service models that leverage technology and AI responsibly to improve efficiency, consistency, and customer experience. This role will play a critical part in shaping the future of LegalZoom’s patent offerings while delivering high-quality legal services to startups, entrepreneurs, and SMB clients.

You will

• Leverage technology and AI-enabled tools responsibly to improve operational efficiency, consistency, and customer experience while maintaining high-quality legal standards
• Conduct and review patent searches and provide strategic guidance and risk analyses
• Advise internal legal support staff on patent search parameters, illustrations, and filing requirements
• Conduct patentability assessments and counsel clients on patent strategy
• Conduct client consultations with SMB and startup founders regarding patent protection strategies
• Draft and prosecute patent applications, including provisional, utility, and design patent applications
• Respond to USPTO office actions and prepare persuasive arguments and amendments
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and client communications
• Help develop best practices, playbooks, templates, and quality assurance processes for patent operations
• Train, mentor, and support patent agents and legal support staff
• Contribute to a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and operational excellence

You have

• 3+ years of U.S. patent prosecution experience
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Active license and good standing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
• A license to practice in good standing with at least one state bar passed
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, biotechnology, chemistry, or another scientific or technical discipline (advanced degree preferred)
• Experience drafting and prosecuting provisional, utility, and/or design patent applications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-attorney clients clearly and effectively
• Experience working with startups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Interest in legal innovation, scalable service delivery, and the thoughtful use of AI-enabled technologies in legal practice
• Sound professional judgment and commitment to ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies

Compensation and Benefits

The national salary range for this role is ($101,900 - $150,900). Actual compensation offered will depend on several factors, including but not limited to: geographic location, work experience, education, skill level, and/or other business and organizational needs. In addition, an annual bonus, incentive bonus, and/or restricted stock units may be provided as part of the compensation package. You will also receive a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, as seen below.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• 401k, With Matching Contributions
• Paid Time Off
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Short-Term/Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Plus other wellness benefits to include:
  • Fertility
  • Mental Health
  • One Medical
  • Fringe lifestyle benefits up to $250

Equal Opportunity Employer

Join us in making a difference as we build our future and help ensure access to professional legal advice to all! LegalZoom is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. LegalZoom prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Additionally, LegalZoom is enrolled in the E-Verify program. For additional information on E-Verify, please visit Participation and Right to Work pages.

Key skills/competency

• Patent Attorney
• Patent Prosecution
• Legal Technology
• AI Integration
• Client Counseling
• Intellectual Property
• USPTO
• Startup Law
• Legal Innovation
• Risk Analysis